10 Ways You Can be Green, Make a Difference & Save Money
Sometimes we need a reminder to make green choices and sometimes we just can’t think of what we can reduce our use of. As a whole, Americans are the biggest consumers in the world but the choices you make do make a difference because it encourages others to do the same and makes you part of a growing community who others who also make green choices. Here are 10 ways to be green…and since most families are on a budget, you’ll save money too!
1. Hang your clothes out to dry on a line. The sun is so refreshing and has the most natural bleaching power you can get anywhere. Your clothes will be fresher than ever. You’ll also be saving gas or electricity by not using your dryer, which isn’t more than $0.30 or so a use but that’s almost $45 per year if you do only 3 loads a week.
2. Shop at a farmer’s market. Because the produce comes directly from the nearby grower, less packaging and fuel is used to bring the produce to you.
3. Switch to Cloth. If you have or are going to have a baby or toddler in diapers, choose cloth diapers. It’s really easy and fun because you can get some pretty cute diapers. You won’t be filling up landfills and you’ll be treating baby’s poop more sanitary by flushing it. Although the immediate cost of cloth diapers can sometimes be a turn-off, it will only take a few months to recover your initial cost and then the diapers can be used for multiple babies! If you don’t plan on having any more babies after these diapers, cloth diapers have a good resale value and are highly demanded.
Even if you use disposables, you can still use cloth wipes and make a difference. Imagine all those wipe boxes stacked up in your dining room…cloth diaper wipes are really simple and easy. Just keep a small stepcan by your changing station to put them in and launder as usual.
4. Reusable Plates & Flatware. When picniking in the park or camping in the great outdoors take along reusable plates and utensils to eat with. They are nicer to eat on and they make less trash. Outdoor supply stores a good place to get the reusable plates and flatware. You can also check out IKEA.
5. Use Fabric Napkins. By using fabric napkins at home and for special ocassions like birthdays and holiday dinners you’ll be showing some class and saving paper. Add a fabric tablecloth and your friends and family will wonder how you get everything together so well with your busy schedule.
6. Encourage women to breastfeed. Even if you didn’t breastfeed you can still talk about the benefits of breastfeeding or just encourage the sight of a breastfeeding mother with a kind nod and smile. Breastfeeding is not only widely known as the best food for babies for the entire 1st year of life but it also causes no materials or fossil fuels to be made. It’s just natural.
7. Walk. If you live close enough (within 1-2 miles) to a place you want to go, get some excercise on the way by walking. You’ll burn calories instead of carbon.
8. Use old greeting cards to make tags/cards for gift-giving. Just cut out cute pictures, place on a trimmed paper scrap and make a cute message. Get creative and don’t be scared to give it even if it doesn’t look the way you thought it might. I personally prefer hand made items over purchased. And if you have kids, let them help…it’s a good excuse for a childish card!
9. Used books. Books are purchased as gifts all the time for adults and children.Used books are widely available especially because of the internet. When you are looking for a book, even hard to find ones or children’s books, shop Amazon.com. You’ll be saving one more book from being made each time you buy a used book.
10. Less toys for your kids. Most people have way too many toys for their kids. Bring play back to a form of discovery for your children and buy them less toys. When you purchase toys, get fewer quality made toys that are sold by families. You will be doing a favor for your children, preserving valuable fossil fuels used during the production of PVC and supporting a family who probably has values similar to yours.
